Work handling

ABSTRACT

Apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising  
     (a) transporter means by which a container may be supported for moving the container,  
     (b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal,  
     (c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output and  
     (d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container.

[0001] This invention relates to handling of containers in which one ormore plants is growing and is especially concerned with automatedhandling of plant pots in a greenhouse.

[0002] Plants grown in greenhouses are amenable to automated handlingbecause they are usually grown in containers such as pots that can beeasily transported to and from automation devices. Greenhouses can beequipped with automated systems for transporting plants in and out ofthe growing area in the greenhouse. Automation is an attractive optionin greenhouses because it permits reduction in labour costs whilstrendering particular operations more uniform, reliable and lesserror-prone and allowing speed-up of the execution of particular tasks.In order for automation to run in a reliable, efficient and unattendedway, plants must be identifiable by the automation devices.

[0003] Identification of plants in the horticultural industry is acommon practice. The most widely used identification systems are eithercoloured labels, text-printed labels or bar-coded labels.

[0004] As automated transporting systems become more sophisticated, theneed increases for a system that accurately provides an on-line overviewon where plants (or plant batches) are standing in the greenhouse andcharacteristics of those plants.

[0005] It is one object of the invention to provide improved apparatusand/or process for handling of containers containing plants.

[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus and orprocess for improved breeding of plants.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide improvedapparatus and/or process for conducting an operation to obtain digitalimages of plants.

[0008] The invention provides in one of its aspects apparatus suitablefor use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants isgrowing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquirysignal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifiersignal the apparatus comprising

[0009] a) transporter means by which a container may be supported formoving a container,

[0010] b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal,

[0011] c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital outputand

[0012] d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied forstorage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulationto afford comparison of data related to the container.

[0013] The word |comprising| where used herein is intended to encompassthe notion of |including| and the notion of |consisting essentially of|.

[0014] In apparatus according to the invention the enquiry andidentifier signals are preferably radio signals. Conveniently, thedevice for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding bytransmitting an unique identifier signal consists of a copper coil,which acts as a small antenna and a chip, which stores information. Suchdevices are hereinafter referred to as transponders. The means fortransmitting the enquiry signal comprises one or more transmitterslocated at known positions. Preferably the, or each transmittercomprises a larger aerial and sends radio waves towards the transponder.The small antenna of the transponder captures this and uses the energygenerated for its own response. The transponder chip recognises theradio signal and transmits its unique identifier signal by sendinginformation programmed in it. This could be a simple unique code butalso more information if the chip is equipped for this, but we havefound that transponders of a very simple type are sufficient. The uniqueidentifier signal is captured by one or more of the aerials of thetransmitters, which sends this identifier to the computer means.

[0015] In one preferred apparatus arranged to support an array ofcontainers in the form of pots containing plants, several transmittersare employed at known locations and the apparatus and its computer meansis organised to enable identification of the location of the pot. Inthis preferred apparatus the transporter means comprises a plurality ofco-extensive storage transporters each providing support for a row ofseveral pots, the storage transporters being disposed adjacent oneanother to support rows of pots in a horizontally disposed array. Eachstorage transporter comprises a channel member secured in desiredparallel relation to adjacent channel members and an endless beltlocated with an upper surface lying in the channel member and arrangedto be drawn along the channel. Each belt supports a row of closelyspaced pots. In this preferred apparatus, the channel members aresituated with their end portions proximate to transfer conveyor means inthe form of a belt conveyor located transversely to the channel membersto accept or deliver pots from or to the belts. Preferably the apparatuscomprises means for operating the belts as desired. When a belt is movedin one direction, the row of pots supported on that belt is movedtowards a first transfer station at which an endmost pot of the row istransferred to the transfer conveyor. When moved in the other directionthe belt moves the row of pots supported on that belt away from thetransfer conveyor. Preferably, the apparatus comprises means foroperating the transfer conveyor to move a pot supported on it to thesecond transfer station or to a workstation from which it may betransferred onto another storage transporter belt. In this preferredform of apparatus shuttle robots are employed to actuate movement of thebelts in the channel members. The shuttle robots actuate the belts andby doing so they allow the plants to be transported to or from thetransfer conveyor belt. Aerials of the transmitters are mounted on theshuttle robots and transmit to the computer means information about theidentity of the channel member in front of which they are standing.Transponder readers on the shuttle robots transmit to the computer meansinformation about which transponder-tagged plant pots are passing by therobot. The combined information on channel member and the identity ofthe pots allows to reconstruct an on-line overview of where each plantis located on the transporter means. Apparatus according to theinvention may be arranged so that the shuttle robots are actuated inresponse to data contained in the database so as to move a pot from onelocation to another.

[0016] This preferred form of apparatus thus embodies a warehousingsystem for plants (for example in a greenhouse) that provides an on-lineoverview of the location of individual plants in the array of plants.The principle of the system is that each plant container is labelledwith a transponder and that these transponders are read by transponderreaders positioned along the transporting system. The information on thegeographical location of the readers together with the identity of thetransponders that pass by the readers permit an overview of the positionof the plants in the greenhouse.

[0017] Apparatus according to the invention may comprise a workstationat which an operation is performed on the plant or plants in thecontainer and if desired the operation may be performed automatically.Individual identification of plants allows for automated handling to bedifferentiated according to the plant's identity, and furthermore allowsto keep track of the history of particular handlings for each individualplant. Examples of automatic operations for plant handling in agreenhouse setting include transplanting of young plants from smaller tolarger containers, sorting of plants according to particularmorphological parameters (e.g. size), pruning of plants, harvesting ofparticular parts of plants (e.g. flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves),supporting plants with the aid of sticks planted in the container andpackaging of plants or plant containers. In one aspect, transmission ofthe identifier signal of the container presented at the workstation mayactuate the means for performing the operation.

[0018] A second preferred apparatus hereinafter described comprises aworkstation at which an imaging operation is performed on the plant orplants in the container. In this apparatus, transmission of theidentifier signal by the transponder of the container presented at theworkstation actuates the imaging means for performing the operation.

[0019] The apparatus comprises transporter means by which a container inthe form of a pot containing a plant is moved through an imagingcabinet. The imaging cabinet is shielded from natural daylight. Lightinside the imaging cabinet is provided by a standardized set of lamps ofwhich the light intensity can be controlled. A pusher device at theworkstation, inside the cabinet pushes the pot and its plant from theconveyor belt onto a required position on an imaging platform. Atransponder reader antenna is mounted in such a way that it only readsthe transponder of a pot positioned on the imaging platform. The readerof the transponder sends a signal to the software system that controlsdigital cameras in the imaging cabinet and thus activates the cameras totake a series of pictures. These pictures are processed on-line usingimaging analysis software to extract information on the plants (e.g.height of the plants on the images, number of green pixels, etc.) andthe processed data as well as the images get linked to the transpondertag unique identifier and downloaded to the computer. After the imageshave been captured, a picking device pushes the plant from the imagingplatform onto a conveyor belt of the transporter means which transportsthe plants out of the imaging cabinet. The speed at which plants arehandled in the imaging cabinet can be controlled by adjusting the speedof the conveyor belts and the picking devices.

[0020] The imaging device described above could be combined with otherautomation devices such as for instance a “sorting device” that sortsplants according to parameters derived from the digital images (e.g.plant height). Other automation devices could perform particular actionson transponder-tagged plants and such actions (e.g. pruning, harvesting,packaging, etc.) could be differentiated according to the informationlinked in a database to the transponder tag of the pot in which theplant is growing.

[0021] This apparatus operates in an unattended and fully automated way.It may be used in the phenotyping of plants for breeding purposes. Onemay determine phenotyping parameters of plant growth for example, area,height, width, number of leaves, number of inflorescences and branchingpattern in an objective and quantifiable way. Thus, plants withparticular morphological parameters (that can be derived from digitalimages) may be selected from a population of plants with differentgenetic constitution. The apparatus may be used without humanintervention, and plants may be imaged at a high throughput rate, thusallowing not only imaging of a large population of plants in a shortperiod of time, but also repeated imaging of the same population ofplants so that evolution of the parameters over time may be recorded,both of which are desirable in plant breeding. Information derived fromthe digital images is collected for each individual plant from thepopulation, and stored to allow for downstream data analysis. The uniqueidentifier of each container and the information derived from each plantmay be unambiguously linked to this identifier in the computer means.Preferably the information is stored as such (information on aparticular plant linked to identification tag of the plant) in a digitaldatabase.

[0022] The automation devices described handle plants as individuals ina pot tagged with a transponder. Plants can also be handled batch-wisein which case the transponders label the batch of plants rather than theindividual plant. For instance, plants can be grown with severalindividuals in a large pot or in a tray or in a tray consisting ofphysically connected pots. In this case the transponder is positioned inthe container (large pot, tray, set of connected pots) in which thebatch of plants is grown.

[0023] The invention provides in another of its aspects a method forrelocating a container in which one or more plants is growing within agroup of such containers in accordance with desired criteria comprisingsupporting the containers with transporter means comprising a pluralityof storage transporters each providing support for a row of severalcontainers in a horizontally disposed array, and a transfer conveyor,there being means for operating each storage transporter to move the rowof containers supported on that transporter towards a first transferstation at which an endmost container of the row may be transferred tothe transfer conveyor means, the method comprising associating with eachcontainer a device which, in response to receipt of an enquiry signalautomatically transmits an unique identifier signal, emitting enquirysignals from known locations and recording the enquiry and identifiersignals as digital output in a database in prescribed format to identifythe location of the container.

[0024] The invention provides in another of its aspects a method forimaging and recording characteristics of a plant presented at anoperating station comprising associating with the plant a device forreceiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding thereto bytransmitting an unique identifier signal, passing the containerautomatically to a workstation at which there is located means fortransmitting the enquiry signal, causing the identifier signal toactuate means for imaging the plant and transferring the identifiersignal and digital image information as digital output to a database forrecording in prescribed format for manipulation according to desiredcharacteristics.

[0025] The invention provides in another of its aspects a container(suitable for use in apparatus according to the invention or in a methodaccording to the invention) comprising a container charged with a mediumfor growing a plant, a single plant rooted in the medium and atransponder supported in or on the container.

[0026] The invention provides in another of its aspects, the use ofapparatus according to the invention in a greenhouse for the breeding ofplants.

[0027] In order that the invention may become more clear there nowfollows a description to be read with the accompanying drawings of twopreferred apparatuses according to the invention selected fordescription to illustrate the invention by way of example. In thedrawings,

[0028]FIG. 1 is a view of a plant pot containing a transponder for usein the invention;

[0029]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of transporter means of thefirst illustrative apparatus;

[0030]FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a channel member and conveyorbelt of the transporter means supporting a plant pot;

[0031]FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a motorised shuttle of thefirst illustrative apparatus;

[0032]FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a workstation of the secondillustrative apparatus; and

[0033]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 5.

[0034] The first illustrative apparatus is suitable for use inconjunction with a plurality of containers in the form of plant pots(10) (FIG. 1) in which one or more plants (12) is growing in a soilselected for the purpose. Each pot contains a transponder disc device(14) packaged in a plastic wafer and is held in the soil by a peg (16).Each transponder (14) consists of a copper coil, which acts as a smallantenna and a chip, which stores information and is arranged forreceiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmittingan unique identifier signal. Several transmitters are employed fortransmitting enquiry signals to which the transponder discs (14)respond. The apparatus also comprises means for recording the identifiersignal as a digital output and computer means (not shown) to which thedigital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed formatin a database from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison ofdata related to the pots.

[0035] The apparatus comprises transporter means (20) (FIG. 2) by whichthe pots are supported and moved as desired. The transporter means (20)comprises a plurality of co-extensive storage transporters (22) eachproviding support for a row of several pots, the storage transportersbeing disposed adjacent one another to support rows of pots in ahorizontally disposed array. Each storage transporter (22) comprises achannel member provided by a rigid |U|-shaped gutter (24) secured inparallel relation next to adjacent gutters. An endless belt (26)operates within each gutter (FIG. 3) and is located with an uppersurface lying in the gutter and arranged to be drawn along it. Each belt(26) supports a row of closely spaced pots (10). The gutters (24) aresituated with their end portions proximate to a belt conveyor (30) oftransfer conveyor means (28) located transversely to the gutters (24).Each gutter is provided with a transponder (31) (not shown) similar totransponder (14) whereby each gutter is uniquely identifiable by thesignal from its transponder.

[0036] Electrically operated shuttle robots (32, 34) are employed toactuate movement of the belts (26) in the gutters (24). The movementcauses the pots to be transported to or from the belt conveyor (30).Motor means is provided for moving the belt conveyor (30) continuously.When a belt (26) is moved in its gutter in one direction, the row ofpots supported on that belt is moved towards a transfer station at whichan endmost pot of the row is transferred to the belt conveyor (30). Whenmoved in the other direction the belt (26) moves the row of potssupported on that belt away from the belt conveyor (30), allowing spacefor a pot to be introduced to the end of that row. Each shuttle robot(32, 34) is arranged for movement along the belt conveyor (30) (FIG. 4)so that it may communicate with the gutters individually as desired.They are of similar construction and the shuttle robot (34) only isdescribed here. Guide members (36, 38) are provided for guiding potsmoving along the belt conveyor (30). A cylinder (40) of a pneumaticallyoperated piston and cylinder device is mounted on the shuttle robotbetween the guide members (36, 38) and its piston (42) is arranged formovement horizontally across and above the belt conveyor (30). In itsrest position as shown in FIG. 4, the piston (42) serves to arrest a potdelivered from a gutter by its belt (26). When it is desired to remove apot from the belt conveyor (30), the piston (42) is actuated to push thepot and urge it into the selected gutter (22) in the path shown by arrowA in FIG. 4. The shuttle robot carries two rod shaped transponderantennae (44, 46) which are positioned each side of the shuttle robotand serve as transmitter aerials. Each transmitter sends radio wavestowards the transponders (14). The small antenna of the transponder (14)captures this and uses the energy generated for its own response. Thetransponder chip recognises the radio signal and transmits its uniqueidentifier signal by sending information programmed in it as a simpleunique code. The unique identifier signal is captured by one or more ofthe aerials (44, 46) of the transmitters, which sends this identifier tothe computer means via decoders. The shuttle robot also carries atransponder reader (48) (not shown) for reading the signals from thetransponders (31) associated with the gutters and these respond in asimilar way to supply information to the computer means about theidentity of the gutter in front of which the shuttle robots are standingthus specifying the precise location of each shuttle robot in relationto the gutters. The shuttle robot also sends to the computer meansinformation concerning the operations which it performs, so that ahistory of its actions may be combined with other information suppliedto the computer means. The information about which pot is passing ashuttle robot and the precise location of the shuttle robot is known andkept in the memory of the computer means enabling one to reconstruct anon-line overview of where each plant is or has been located on thetransporter means.

[0037] This first illustrative apparatus is housed in a greenhouse andprovides a warehousing system for plants which includes an on-lineoverview of the location of individual plants in the array of plants. Inuse of the apparatus one knows which plant passes which aerial at whichtime and what action was undertaken at that time i.e. whether filling oremptying gutters in order to have directional information on any plantmovement. Grouping plants in batches facilitates the positioning ofcertain types or groups of plants in the greenhouse. Historicalpositional data combined with fertiliser and watering data enables anoperator of the apparatus to keep track of the nutritional regime ofevery single plant in the array. The information also enables theoperator to schedule all plant movements in the most efficient way.

[0038] The apparatus is arranged so that the shuttle robots are actuatedin response to data contained in the database so as to move a pot fromone location to another.

[0039] In addition, the first illustrative device may comprise aworkstation at which an operation is performed on the plant or plants inthe pot. Further, it may comprise means for performing the operationautomatically, for example, means for sorting of plants according tospecified characteristics, harvesting, imaging, packaging, photographingor pruning.

[0040] The second illustrative apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6comprises a workstation (58) at which an imaging device (52) may becaused to carry out an imaging operation on a plant (12) in a plant pot(10) (FIG. 1) as they are fed one by one, for example from conveyormeans of the first illustrative apparatus. A single transmitter (60)(FIG. 6) is employed at the workstation (58) (FIG. 5) for transmittingenquiry signals to which the transponder discs (14) respond. Theapparatus also comprises means for recording the identifier signal as adigital output and computer means (not shown) to which the digitaloutput is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in adatabase from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison of datarelated to the plants in the pots.

[0041] The workstation comprises an imaging cabinet having walls (54,56) which serve to shield the interior from natural daylight. Lightinside the imaging cabinet is provided by a standardised set of lamps(70) of which the light intensity can be controlled. The imaging devicecomprises two digital cameras disposed one above another and focussed onthe position occupied by a plant delivered to a rotatable work supportin the form of a circular plate (68) adjacent which the transmitter islocated. One camera has a 35 mm lens and is mounted 20 cm above thelevel of soil in the pot for observation of plants up to 36 cm high andthe other has a 9 mm lens mounted 65 cm above the level of soil in thepot for observation of plants up to 135 cm high. A set of up to siximages are taken as the pot is rotated through a predetermined angle ofrotation.

[0042] The apparatus comprises transporter means (FIG. 5) by which thepots are supported and moved through the workstation one by one. Thetransporter means comprises a first belt conveyor (which is an extensionof the belt conveyor (30) of the first illustrative apparatus), a secondbelt conveyor (64) running transversely of the first belt conveyor, athird belt conveyor (66) running parallel to the second belt conveyor(64) and a fourth belt conveyor (67) running parallel to the first beltconveyor (30).

[0043] Picking devices (72, 74, 76) are positioned to move pots from thebelt conveyor (30) to the belt conveyor (64), from the belt conveyor(64) to the circular plate (68) and from the circular plate to the beltconveyor (66). Each picking device comprises a pneumatically operatedpiston and cylinder device of which the cylinder is secured to a frameof the apparatus. A curved arm (78) secured to the piston of the pickingdevice (72) is positioned to be drawn across an end portion of the beltconveyor (30) to transfer a pot onto the belt conveyor (64). An |L|shaped arm (80) secured to the piston of the picking device 74 ispositioned for movement across the belt conveyor (64) and serves toarrest movement of the pot and push it onto the circular plate (68). A|U| shaped arm (82) secured to the piston of the picking device (76) isarranged for movement to dislodge the pot from the circular plate ontothe belt conveyor (66). An optical sensor (84) is positioned adjacentthe picking device (72) detects the presence of a pot and stops itsmovement whilst a pot is in position on the circular plate (68). Anoptical sensor (86) positioned adjacent the picking device (72) detectspots passing on the belt conveyor (64) and is arranged to stop the beltconveyor (64) if this sensor is activated for more than a certain periodof time commensurate with the passage of a properly oriented pot andthus stops the system if, for example, an overturned pot is passing thissensor (86). An optical sensor (88) is located adjacent the pickingdevice (74) and serves to actuate the picking device (74) to push a potfrom the belt conveyor (64) onto the circular plate (68).

[0044] The transmitter comprises a flat transponder antenna (60) fixedto the frame of the apparatus, adjacent the circular plate (68), betweenthe plate and the imaging device (52). The antenna (60) extends nohigher than a pot on the circular plate (68) so that it does notobstruct the image of the plant in the pot taken by the imaging device(52).

[0045] In use of the second illustrative apparatus, pots containingplants to be imaged are delivered to the belt conveyor (30) andtransferred one by one to the belt conveyor (64) by operation of thepicking device (78). The picking device (74) is operated to push the potand its plant from the belt conveyor (64) onto the circular plate (68)and the plate rotates through 360°. Antenna (60) sends radio wavestowards the transponder (14) in the pot as it reaches the plate (68).The small antenna of the transponder (14) captures this and uses theenergy generated for its own response. The chip of transponder (14)recognises the radio signal and transmits its unique identifier signalby sending information programmed in it as a simple unique code. Theunique identifier signal is captured by the antenna (60) which sendsthis identifier to the computer means via decoders. The antenna (60) ismounted in such a way that it reads only the transponder (14) of a pot(10) positioned on the plate (68). The identifier of the transponder(14) is captured several times as the circular plate is rotated with thepot and plant supported thereon. Also, the reader of the transponder(60) sends a signal to the software system that controls the digitalcameras in the imaging cabinet and activates the cameras to take aseries of pictures. These pictures are processed on-line using imaginganalysis software to extract information on the plants (e.g. height ofthe plants on the images, number of green pixels, etc.) and theprocessed data as well as the images are linked to the transponderunique identifier and downloaded to the computer means.

[0046] After the images have been captured, the picking device (76)pushes the pot from the circular plate onto belt conveyor (66) of thetransporter means which transports the plants out of the imaging cabinetfor transfer to the belt conveyor (67) and return to the gutters. Thespeed at which plants are handled in the imaging cabinet can becontrolled by adjusting the speed of the conveyor belts and the pickingdevices.

1. Apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in whichone or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device forreceiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmittingan unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising a) transportermeans by which a container may be supported for moving the container, b)means for transmitting the enquiry signal, c) means for recording theidentifier signal as a digital output and d) computer means to which thedigital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed formatin a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related tothe container.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transportermeans comprises a plurality of co-extensive storage transporters eachproviding support for a row of several containers, the storagetransporters being disposed adjacent one another to support rows ofcontainers in a horizontally disposed array and to cooperate withtransfer conveyor means adjacent an end portion of each storagetransporter.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means fortransmitting the enquiry signal comprises a plurality of transmitterslocated in the transporter means and each transmitting an unique enquirysignal.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the computer means isorganised to enable identification of the location of the container byreference to the enquiry and identifier signals and to information aboutthe location of the transmitters.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4comprising means for operating a storage transporter to move the row ofcontainers supported on that storage transporter towards a firsttransfer station at which an endmost container of the row is transferredto the transfer conveyor means, and means for moving the storagetransporter to move the row of containers supported on that storagetransporter away from a second transfer station.
 6. Apparatus accordingto claim 5 comprising means for operating the transfer conveyor to movethe container supported on it to a second transfer station or to aworkstation.
 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 5 and 6wherein the means for operating a storage transporter and the means foroperating the conveyor means are actuated in response to data containedin the database so as to move the container from one location toanother.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a workstation atwhich an operation is performed on the plant or plants in the container.9. Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means for performing anoperation automatically on the plant or plants presented at theworkstation.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the means forperforming an operation automatically on the plant or plants presentedat the workstation is selected from the group consisting of means forsorting of plants according to specified characteristics, harvesting,imaging, packaging, photographing and pruning.
 11. Apparatus accordingto claim 8 wherein transmission of the identifier signal of thecontainer presented at the workstation actuates the means for performingthe operation.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising camerameans for performing said operation by obtaining one or more digitalimages of the plant or plants in the container present at the workstation.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the workstationcomprises a work support mounted for rotation when a container issupported thereon and the images are obtained.
 14. Apparatus accordingto claim 12 comprising algorithm means for transposing the digitalimages into a form in which selected criteria of the plant or plants inthe container may be evaluated.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein the container contains a single plant.
 16. Apparatus accordingto claim 8 also comprising means for recording that the operation hasbeen performed and supplying the record in digital format to thecomputer database.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising aconveyor on which a container is transported towards the workstation andmeans for urging the container from the conveyor into position at theworkstation.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 comprising a conveyoron which a container may be carried away from the workstation and meansfor urging the container from the workstation onto this conveyor.
 19. Amethod for relocating a container in which one or more plants is growingwithin a group of such containers in accordance with desired criteriacomprising supporting the containers with transporter means comprising aplurality of storage transporters each providing support for a row ofseveral containers in a horizontally disposed array, and a transferconveyor, there being means for operating each storage transporter tomove the row of containers supported on that transporter towards a firsttransfer station at which an endmost container of the row may betransferred to the transfer conveyor means, the method comprisingassociating with each container a device which, in response to receiptof an enquiry signal automatically transmits an unique identifiersignal, emitting enquiry signals from known locations and recording theenquiry and identifier signals as digital output in a database inprescribed format to identify the location of the container.
 20. Amethod for imaging and recording characteristics of a plant presented atan operating station comprising associating with the plant a device forreceiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding thereto bytransmitting an unique identifier signal, passing the containerautomatically to a workstation at which there is located means fortransmitting the enquiry signal, causing the identifier signal toactuate means for imaging the plant and transferring the identifiersignal and digital image information as digital output to a database forrecording in prescribed format for manipulation according to desiredcharacteristics.
 21. A container charged with a medium for growing aplant, a single plant rooted in the medium and a transponder supportedin or on the container.
 22. The use of apparatus according to claim 1 ina greenhouse for the breeding of plants.
 23. In a greenhouse in whichplants are processed by automated devices, the use of transponders foridentification of the plants.
 24. In a greenhouse according to claim 23,use of software systems that link the unique identification key of thetransponder tag to information generated by the automation devices. 25.In a greenhouse according to claim 23 or 24 the use of transponders toidentify the location of a plant.
 26. In a greenhouse according to claim25 the use of information provided by transponders to executepreprogrammed automated operations on the plants.